Population: 4,496,694
Kolkata
HistoryThings To DoTransportationMore...
More Topics...

Cost of Living and Inflation in Kolkata, West Bengal: What do you need to know?

55 local experts
Share
Share

Here's what 55 local experts had to say about prices and the cost of living in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Leave a comment

As everyone knows, Kolkata is still the cheapest place to live in. Rent is around Rs.5000/- ($ 61) per month for 1 BHK. Food and travelling another Rs.5000/- ($ 61). Although rent depends on the area you decide to live in but in general it’s that much only.

Gaurav, says: 2023

Cost of living is up to one’s pocket and friendly atmosphere.

Sanjoy, says: 2022

Kolkata is a very beautiful city. It’s remarkably cheap and the cost of living is low compared to other metropolitans. While Kolkata is easy on new comers, I would advise you to choose Ola or Uber over the yellow taxi. People are quite helpful so you can ask for help without hesitation.

The name “City of Joy” itself says a lot. People from all walks of life can survive here with minimal expenditures. Food is affordable and tasty. If you want to know someone better you just offer biryani.

The city of joy may not be the brightest, cleanest or most spectacular city out there, but it’s name is totally justified. The people are just a delight and the food is heavenly. Overall, if you are looking for an affordable metropolitan city, you and Kolkata are perfect for each other.

Pallavi, says: 2020

Kolkata is not the best city out there. Although you may find it rather filthy, don’t have any misgivings about the people. The guys here are a delight and the food is just amazing. Overall, if you are looking for the most affordable metropolitan city in the country, Kolkata and you are a match made in heaven.

Mayank, says: 2020

One doesn’t have to worry too much about finding affordable places to live in Kolkata, as there are affordable options for accommodation in the city. Transport in the city presents itself with an array of options ranging from buses, to the quintessential yellow taxis of Kolkata. Trams too, are a historically rich option.

Bhavana, says: 2020

Kolkata is a city of joy and rightly so. People from all walks of life can stay here. It’s not meant for rich but also for relatively poor. Food is pretty delicious and cost effective. If you’ve a voracious appetite, this is the place. However, weather changes pretty frequently. That’s the only drawback.

Prasanna, says: 2020

Kolkata is a city of joy, a city full of life. It is a city of culture and heritage. It has the best street foods and here the accommodation is very cheap. All the festivals are celebrated in Kolkata. Anybody who will once come in Kolkata, will always feel Home and would carry a part of it to wherever they go and strew its tenderness and love and flavour all over.

Amareswar, says: 2020

– Anyone moving to Kolkata must have working knowledge of either Bengali or Hindi, especially if they are to rely on public transport. Even otherwise, knowing either of these two languages is important to make it work here.
– Traffic in Kolkata may not be as bad as other metropolitans but traffic directions change at certain times of the day. For example, certain roads have only one-way traffic at certain times. Using online maps is particularly helpful for the newcomer.
– Sharing a cab with a bunch of strangers is not advisable. People have been mugged in the process.
– If someone is relocating from a different city, street food probably won’t pose a problem. But foreigners are warned to stay away from it. Not only can it be particularly tough on the digestive system, as many of my acquaintances have found out the hard way, hawkers have also been known to dupe customers who aren’t familiar with the tricks of their trade. Speaking of trade, anyone visiting New Market must be well-versed in the art of haggling. Prices can come down to as much as one-fourth, if negotiated the right way.
– Late night wandering in the city is not particularly safe. It is advisable to reach one’s destination by 10pm.

Srimathi, says: 2020

Kolkata is popularly known as the City of Joy and rightly so, as this city is full of life and the people here go out of their way to help others.

The best part about this city is the food. You can find the best cuisines at the most affordable price and the cost of living as well is well within reach and way below some of the other metropolitan cities in India.

Overall it’s the best place to settle down if you are looking for great food, friendly people and an amazing atmosphere.

Pratiksha, says: 2020

The cost of living in Kolkata is very cheap, compared to other metropolitan cities in India. The people here are very warm and intelligent. Bengali is the mother tongue of people of Kolkata. Bengali people are very strict about education. The city is rich in culture. Evening Adda in tea corners are like a daily ritual of Bengali people.

Samarth, says: 2020

Kolkata is the City of Joy. Here people welcome each newbie with much warmth; the visitor doesn’t always need to be formal about what he/she wants, just asking with a smile on face will get his/her job done. Kolkata still carries its heritage with beauty and grace and it is one of those rare places where you can easily survive even with limited budget.

Sanjana, says: 2020

Kolkata is a good place. As it’s weather is very pleasant. Overall here cost of living is low. one can save more money. And as it’s a metro city, it’s easy to travel from one place to another with metro, apart from that here the local train and bus services are great and cheap. Apart from that auto and taxi services are also quite cheap than other cities. Food is great and cheap. Lots of places to visit in weekends. Education system is great.

Amrinder, says: 2020

Anyone moving to Kolkata should know it’s indeed a city of joy only if you can survive the dirt and the garbage on the roads. Also, you don’t have to worry about the food. Kolkata is a home to delicious street foods which can satisfy your taste and hunger at a reasonable price. Living in this city is a lot easy and comforting with a lot of conveyance options to travel around the city, an affordable stay and a eas availability of all kinds of food.

Aleena, says: 2020

The city is very warm and friendly. It is called the city of Joy. It is not expensive, people with modest means can comfortably live here. The transport system is very good. Good healthcare facilities are available. There are good malls, theater, park, playgrounds available. And oh! There are sufficient good educational institutes both schools and colleges for your children to study.

I suggest you should not move to my city. My city is very densely populated, prices of goods are very high and there is at least one beggar in every alley. This situation would demotivate you to the point that you cannot think of anything else except helping them.

Rajarshi, says: 2020

It is a beautiful place over all. It has its own pros and cons. Let me first tell you about the pros which are:
* Transportation is available 24/7.
* There are a lot of beautiful and fun places, where you can go with family.
* The rent not that much too.

Now the cons:
* The air here is not that great.
* There is a lot of traffic here at time.
* Overall a lot of place are just crowded a lot of time.

Darshan, says: 2020

Kolkata is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Therefore, some nice scenery with not so cheap rate of usual things along with beauty of our motherland is more than enough for anyone who is even moving to my city. There are very few place in this world that you can actually call home, but when you call one, make sure to justify it. Trust me, my home and my city got everything you all need.

Know whether you can adjust to the hot and humid weather of the city. The best thing about the city is the food is very cheap with a good quality. if someone moves to this city and looking for pg accommodations then they need to do a bit research and run some errands before finalizing the place of stay. The magnificent Ganga, the beautiful blue sky, delicious hot rosogollas are enough to make you fall in love with city.

Kolkata is a confluence of traditions, modern art and culture. From many exciting places to visit to many foods to explore, Kolkata has surprises for you in every aspect of a joyful life. Street food and specialty joints are another great source attraction. how can one forget about the evolution of a vast variety of sweets in the city. Travelling is cheap and one can get houses at an affordable rate depending on the location. A strong education base is always evident from the national and international achievements this city has witnessed. In a nutshell, Kolkata has something unique and exciting for all groups of people.

Anyone moving to Kolkata must be aware of her glorious history, stunning British-Dutch architecture and an enriched cultural-art- heritage backdrop. Also, the crux of Kolkata is the life associated with the city. Kolkata is the queen of the cities and joy beholds here. From lowest living cost among the metropolitan cities to people with really kind hearts, Kolkata is has it all.

Kolkata is the city of joy as they say. It is a city with plenty of opportunities in variety of fields. One of the cheapest cities where one can thrive with joyful people around. People around you are always willing to help. The transport system is very cheap. You will find soman delicious food to eat and people of welcoming nature.

Farhana, says: 2020

Kolkata is a great dwelling place for people who want to stay in a city which requires less expenses and a good, friendly environment around himself or herself. Kolkata has all kind of places ranging from amusement parks to snow parks. Kolkata has people from all backgrounds and is also a good place for people looking for jobs.

Preetha, says: 2020

In this city there is quite poor jobs and even if one gets the job, then the salary is not up to the mark. Unemployment rate is quite high. Climatic condition is suitable. Market price is quite affordable compared to the other cities. The transport facility is far better than many cities.

Anyone moving to Kolkata should know the following: It’s pretty cost effective – you would find a decent location to rent at reasonable rates, public transport is cheap, the food is varied, mostly tasty, street food is consumed by even high ranked government officials at some places! the city offers a peek into many cultures and cuisines. For instance, Kolkata hosts a small but culturally vibrant chinese community.

Kanchan, says: 2020

Learning Bengali, the local language of West Bengal, is essential before moving to Kolkata. Also, the usual transportation in the city is local bus, which is quite cheap, but crowded. If you are a vegan, you might face some problems with food. People tend to love fish and spiced chicken curries.

Sushmitha, says: 2020

This city is a safe place. The cost of living here is lesser than other metropolitan cities of India. One should learn the local language as fast as possible, and be prepared to ride the bus cause it will be the most memorable part of the day.

Our city is very inexpensive which is a plus point for anyone moving here. Food and water, which are necessities of life are easily available and cheap. Anyone going through a financial issue can consider moving here without any hesitation. The only bad thing about this city is that it isn’t as clean as it is cheap.

Kolkata, as we all are aware is one of the metropolitan cities of India. you can’t expect to see tons of scenic beauty but it sure is heaven to those seeking insight to what influence British rule had to India. The architecture that is seen is appreciable. Compared to other metros the cost of living here is much lower. But commuting is a headache considering all the hustle and bustle on the roads which is a common sight. Kolkata offers street food that can make any foodie to hop onto cloud nine! The weather is pretty moderate and not much of a problem. The rest is for you to come and explore! Hope this helped.

Kolkata is a safe city with people from different parts of the world, mostly Asians, residing here. Commodities are not very expensive and people are quite cooperative. The only thing that I am uncomfortable with is the high humidity.

Sanjay, says: 2020

Kolkata is widely known as “City Of Joy”. But for the people moving here should consider that the city is not that expensive and everything is affordable. But the climate seems pretty worse as it has humidity and one should be prepared for that. But rest assured the city has everything that one needs.

Suresh, says: 2020

Bus fares, cheap hotels, transport facility. Whether they want to stay in the north or the south. From March to June it is really hot, so do they want to face that? It is a cosmopolitan city with lots of people. not many places for a quiet walk. But there are those places and it might be beneficial to know them.

Gunjan, says: 2020

Kolkata is a metropolitan city where everything is available starting from malls, cinema halls, parks, even historical monuments. People here can speak English properly and the value of price is very inexpensive here especially food, room rent and dresses, travel expenses and more. It is a developing city and people here are broad-minded. We love art and culture very much and like to gain knowledge by learning something new.

Kolkata is the city of Joy and is recognized for the vast number of historical sights it contains. The places to visit are Victoria Memorial, Maidan, Indian Museum, etc. The living cost in Kolkata is less than that in other metro cities of India. The north of the city contains beautiful houses in all their ancient glory.

Kolkata, also known as the city of joy is a place where people are humble and helpful. If a person is qualified enough then he/she would end up making decent income for living. The authentic Bengali cuisine that the city serves is worth dying for. Daytime is commonly represented by hustling traffic as life here is quite busy bt nights are Serene and peaceful.

Ananya, says: 2020

Compared to other megacities Kolkata is much affordable city. It has much cheaper transport. You can find hotels or rented house at affordable prices. All food cuisine. Many beautiful places. Some areas can be congested. But mostly you get your best place. Safest place you can stay in.

Deepak, says: 2020

The city is typically affordable to live in when it is compared to other Metropolitan cities in India. It is also extremely growing in its culture. The city is well connected throughout which eases the transport and communication. The city does not have high traffic which is also another added benefit.

Madhoo, says: 2020

Kolkata is known as the “City Of Joy”. It’s a city with plenty of opportunities. It’s a very big city with almost everything available that anyone can imagine. Here you can see millionaires roaming the streets in their luxury cars and beggars sleeping unfed beside the roads on the footpaths. It has a lot of heritage such as Howrah Bridge and Victoria Memorial. Kolkata is well connected with the rest of the world by air, water, rails and roads.

Kolkata is a city of joy. It is a place where one can find things that are very rare, unique and cheap. There are many historic places in Kolkata which is amazing to know about. Its place of love and values of different traditions that are very common in this city.

The ‘City of Joy’, or Kolkata as it is known, is a city of wonders. Even though Kolkata is in West Bengal, a predominantly ‘Bengali’ state, it is an anomaly to that. It is a very secular city and people from all religions and castes are accepted and embraced here. The living costs in Kolkata are very cheap compared to the other ‘Metro’ cities of India. It also has excellent and efficient transport facilities. One can find cuisines from all over India and the world here. It also has some great architectural wonders like the Victoria Memorial and various other grand museums scattered throughout the city.

Firdous, says: 2020

For someone moving to Kolkata the following should be taken into consideration:

(a) The climate is hot and humid for most of the year, so for someone not used to living in tropical climatic conditions this might make their stay uncomfortable.

(b) The city is a heaven for foodies. Especially for people who love spicy food and experiencing new tastes to enrich their palette. Exploring the street food scene can be quite an adventure.

(c) The city is dotted with heritage era buildings and colonial architectural marvels. For people so inclined exploring the city can be its own reward.

(d) The people are quite friendly and warm. Roaming the city and finding new and interesting places can be quite fun the old fashioned way. One can usually find people quite willing to help out in giving directions with a smile.

(e) Kolkata also has the lowest living costs among the metropolitan cities in India.

If the climate is not a problem, moving to Kolkata can be quite an enriching experience.

Lourdu, says: 2020

Kolkata is a city of rich heritage with very warm people. Law and order is good. Apartments are available for sale and rent in all budgets. Conveyance facility is great. Multi cuisine restaurants are available with sumptuous food at great price. Kolkata is famous for its bengali sweets, especially ‘Rosogolla’. A perfect city.

Kolkata is the city of joy. The people of my city are very kind. Transportation is very cheap here and it’s very good and pocket friendly for the people working in Kolkata. The houses in rent are cheaper than other places here. People here love to eat and one of the biggest festival is held here yearly and that is Durga Puja.

Nithya, says: 2020

Kolkata is the City of Joy. Anyone who comes here will fall in love with this city just for its ability to welcome all wholeheartedly. Everyone you get here is so friendly and helpful. The cost of living here is very less considering other cities of the world.

Kolkata is the City of Joy. Besides its old colonial charm, Kolkata offers a quality lifestyle in the cheapest possible expense. It is a heaven for food lovers. There are is no way to get bored in the city that first experienced the Renaissance after Europe. The city thrives in culture and sharing joy.

Tannia, says: 2020

Kolkata is the city of joy. Before moving to Kolkata, know it is a crowded city but also affordable. Durga Puja is the main festival of Bengal and it is celebrated in a huge manner. Most people understand Hindi, but they will be happy if you know how to speak Bengali. There are lot of places where you can visit for shopping such as Burrabazar, South City Mall, etc. You would never lack access to food. Swiggy and Zomato ae always available here.

Ramandeep, says: 2020

The city is quite congested with roads not as good and reaching one’s destination may take a lot of time and patient. The climate here is hot and humid with high level of pollution. However, people are friendly and helpful. The cost of living here is affordable. The city is rich in cultural heritage and famous for film festivals and book fairs.

Nalini, says: 2020

Someone moving to my city should know rice and fish is very cheap in here and lodging does not cost that much compared to other cities in my country. and summer is quite long in here because of the sub tropical weather, which can be quite oppressive to a stranger.

Sakshi, says: 2020

Kolkata is called known as “City of Joy”. People over here are very humble and helpful. Most importantly the living cost over here is very cheap. One can gain a huge knowledge of different cultures and can see many historic places. If anyone visits once surely he/she will fall in love with this city.

Tanishq, says: 2020

Kolkata is a city of wanderers. It is pretty populated too. Here the apartments prices are sky high. One should also consider the foods available here because many people cannot handle the amount of spices added to the dishes here.

it is not an expensive area to live in compared to the other metro cities across the country. For food, transport, housing and daily life in general, the city is a safe bet for life. It is even full of cultures and traditions. Thus, in my candid opinion, Kolkata is surely a good place.

Pramod, says: 2020

Colloquially known as City of Joy, this city has a rich history. With people of all sects living here harmoniously, it is a sterling example of unity in diversity. With a bright and sublime sights, the essence leaves a sweet aftertaste and a tang of nostalgia. It can be intensely hot and humid in the peak of summer. Being one of the few metropolitan city in India, it abounds in opportunities and resources. With efficient municipalities and a strong governance the city is a safe haven. Widely dispersed transport systems allow for easy and cheap commute. Easy accessibility and helpful members of society make it a wonderful place.

Kolkata is one of the four Metro cities of India and the state capital of West Bengal. It is the city where heritage, culture and modernism walk hand in hand. On one side you can catch up and hire any kind of modern mode of transport to commute, on the other hand you can also have the luxury of enjoying a tram ride.

Melinda, says: 2020

Kolkata is the city of joy. Know the cheap and tasty food which includes the delicious sweets and the mouth smacking fish dishes, the loud crowd, the helpful and arguing strangers, the colourful religion and traditions, the heat and humid weather, the cheap transports and last but not the least, historical places.

Vidhya, says: 2020
HistoryThings To DoTransportationMore...
More Kolkata Topics...

Comments are closed.

Names of respondents may have been changed.

Share
Share